Immolation bid at Muktsar: Three arrested for attempt to murder

The city police have arrested three members of the Unemployed Linemen Union, Punjab, for allegedly attempting to murder one of their union members Hitesh Kumar, who had had been reported to have set himself ablaze outside the venue of the political conference of SAD on the Maghi Mela on Wednesday to protest against the delay in the appointment of union members as linemen.

punjabUpdated: Jan 15, 2015 21:30 IST

HT Correspondent Hindustan Times

The city police have arrested three members of the Unemployed Linemen Union, Punjab, for allegedly attempting to murder one of their union members Hitesh Kumar, who had had been reported to have set himself ablaze outside the venue of the political conference of SAD on the Maghi Mela on Wednesday to protest against the delay in the appointment of union members as linemen.

Hitesh, an activist of the union and a resident of Ferozepur, was partially burnt in the incident as the policemen deputed on the site doused the fire immediately after he allegedly attempted immolation. Hitesh is under treatment at the civil hospital here. He has some burns on his arms.

The youth, arrested for allegedly murdering Hitesh, have been identified as Harpeet Singh, a resident of Madak village and Surinder Singh from Fazilka and Harmeet Singh from Ferozepur.

Harpreet is accused of having poured kerosene on Hitesh and the two others setting him afire. The police have booked the three under Section 307 of IPC(attempt to murder) while Hitesh has been booked under Section 120 B of IPC(criminal conspiracy). The cheap way they chose to protest and attract attention could have led to the death of the victim, who is under treatment now. It was a cheap drama played by the protesters which could have been very serious," said a source.

The case has been reportedly registered on the complaint of in-charge of the CIA staff of Muktsar.

But, Pirmal Singh, state president of the union, termed the arrest of three union members under political pressure. "The arrested people did not have any role in the incident. We had gathered outside the venue of the conference to hold a protest. But, the police have registered a case against the three persons under political pressure. We shall further intensify our protest in days to come in this regard," Pirmal added.